LAST July my seven-month relationship with my boyfriend ended when he told me he needed a change. Now I’m with a new guy who I’ve been with for four months.

The problem is that I still think about Luke all the time. Everything my new boyfriend does I compare to how Luke would have done it.

I miss him so much and I feel so depressed. Am I ever going to get over my ex?

Natalia, 17

YOU broke up with your ex at seven months. This is possibly one of the most painful break-up times – you’d just begun to fall in love and he’d just started to lose interest.

When someone leaves you just as you were beginning to fall for them, it can rip out your heart like at no other time. Even break-ups from much longer term relationships can hurt less than at seven months.

You have all my sympathy. It’s going to take a while for you to get over this pain.

That doesn’t mean that in the meantime you have to put your love life on hold, but make a conscious effort to leave the past behind.

Am I in love with best mate?

Dear Alex,

I AM so confused because I think I love my best mate. I think about him all the time and I really look forward to seeing him.

He’s always complimenting me, and the other day he even said he found me attractive, but I don’t know if what I’m feeling is love or just a platonic friendship. I don’t know what to do. Please help.

Confused, 14

PERHAPS you’re not in love with him but you don’t want a ‘platonic’ friendship either.

Perhaps you’re just at that strange middle ground where a friend has become more than a friend – where they have become attractive.

In this situation, the feelings involved are never clear.

Things aren’t black and white – love and friendship get mixed up.

The only way for them to make sense again is for you to clarify just what is going on.

I am sorry to say it, but the only way to do this is to talk to your friend.

You need to find out what he’s really feeling about you and then maybe you will understand your own reactions.